Sign



Aug. 18, 1936. c. H. MACKEY SIGN Filed Sept. 27, 1954 Patented Aug. 18, 1936 PATENT. OFFICE 1 Y SIGN Y Clarence H. Mackey, Lancaster, N. Y.

Application September 27, 1934, Serial No. 745,733

15 Claims.

V"I'his invention relateslto signs*` and particularly to signs andV pictorial representationsor rigures. An object of the invention is to provide improved means by which any pictorial representation may be illuminated, with which the source of illuminationimay be concealed, with which the representation or figure will have a soft,

pleasing, distinctive, and striking appearance' under illumination, with which the pictorial representation or figure will appear to have uniform intensity of illumination in illuminated areas,

which gure or representation under illumination `will have theappearance of a soft glow that is Vvisible for a very substantial distance from the sign, with which various color effects and color vcombinations may be produced, with which a lplurality of pictorial representations may be grouped or re-grouped in av simple and practical manner, which may be used for interior or exterior purposes, and which will be relatively simple and inexpensive.

` Various other objects and advantages will appear from the following description of two embodiments of the invention, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out hereinafter in connection with the appended claims.

In `the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of an improved sign unit constructed in accordance with this invention;

Y Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, partly in section;

Fig. 3 is a transverse, sectional elevation of the same, the section being taken approximately along the line 3 3, Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is Va side elevation of another sign unit, similar to that shown in Figs. 1 to 3 but illustrating a different degree of concavity in the .face of the unit; and

Fig. 5 is a front elevation, on a reduced scale, of the unit shown in Figs. l to l3, as it would appear under illumination. y I -In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 and 5, the improved sign unit includes a member I of any suitable material,

`which hasV a shallow, concave, front face II. The member I0 may be of uniform or varying thickness, and is provided with projecting rear lugs I2 and I3 by which the unit may be supported detachably and interchangeably in any `display position on a suitable supporting frame .or object. vThe member I0, when made of metal, may advantageously be formed of cast metal, or itA may be of sheet metal suitably formed by means of dies. Attached to the member II), ad-

(Cl. l0-130) jacent one edge thereof, is a Vhousing baseV I4 mounting a lamp socket I5.

A tubular shell I6 is suitably anchored to the base I4, so as to project therefrom in a direction approximately normal to the adjacent portion of the member Ill. At its outer end, this shell I6 is closed by a removable cap I'I which may telescope to some extent with the shell I6] The shell I6 isv provided, along the side facing the concave face II, with an open window I8, and this window is normally closed by a transparent element I9, such asglass, Celluloid or other light conducting, sheet material. The element I9 is arcuate and slides endwise in'to a groove 20 provided in the inner surface of the shell .I6 along the window I8 and for some distance beyond the same in a direction peripherally ofthe shell. The cap I1 connes'the transparent element I9 in the position in which'it closes 'the open window I8. The element I9 may be clear and transparent, or tinted or colored so as to transmit either white light or colored light,A as may be desired. V

The inside surfaces of the shell I6 and the cap I'l Vare silvered, or made .highly light reflecting, so as to direct as muchlight as possible towards the window I8. An electric light bulb or vlamp 2|, either clear or colored, is disposed in the socket I and within the shell I6, and its filament 22 is approximately aligned with the Window I8, so that light rays leaving the iilament may pass directly through the window I8 and strike the concave face II. The inner surface of the cap I1 is preferably a portion of a sphere Whose center is approximately at the concentrated portion of the ilament 22, so that light rays leaving the filament and striking the cap I1 will be reflected back towards the filament in a radial direction, many of which rays will then pass directly through the window I8 along with the other light rays that pass directly from the filament to the window.

The major portionkof the face II is preferably provided with a diffusing and reflecting finish, and this iinish preferably extends only over an area that defines the outline of a pictorial representation or figure, such as an object or a letter, the letter F being illustrated on the accompanying drawing. The remaining portion of the face Il is then given a black or non-light reflecting inish or surface, which contrasts strongly with the light reflecting nish given the first mentioned portion of the face II. To save material and make the unit as light as possible, the member I I may be cut away along `its I .it

periphery to ,conformV largely to the outline of Y Vthe letter or other object to be pictured, except forVV a portion thereof which mounts the housing base I4L Thus, in Fig. l, the portion of the face Y II Ybelow the bottom of the letterV F may be painted black or other very darkcolor, so as to be Vnon-lightV reflecting,. and the exterior of the cap YI'I and shell I6 are Valso preferably Vpainted black or darkV colored so as to be asV inconspicuous and invisible as possible.l

The iinish given the face II in the area rep-V resenting the object to be pictured, and which Vin the example illustrated is the letter F,Y is

Y mat-like or one which will reflect andV somewhat Y Vfront of Vthe face II. n .t finish, the face IIrrepresenting theletter .FV

Y diffuse Ythe light rays striking it, Yand will also have the 'Y appearance Vofa subdued, yetisatin-Y glow that is visible to a considerable distance in AsA examples of such `a may be coated with a bronze, aluminum, copper or goldY paint, or with `anyfother paint which prov `ished surface is not as 'satisfactory as the mat-Y ylikerfinish."`r Y, Y Y YVThef'ace'll is alsopreferably provided with duces'a mat-like, similar finish. A highly pol- 'surface undulations, that may be in the nature of corrugations or ribs preferably running wave- V' like or approximatelyvconcentric about the filamentor axis of the lamp 2| and such undulations are also preferablyin thenaturef Vof .V-

shaped ribs.` One side 23 of; each undulation or ribV is'preferably made approximately radial to the filament 22, particularly "the Vconcentrated portion thereof, so that a minorlprortion, if any,

i of the light rays from the lamp 2| will strike thoseV sides ofv the ribs.

The `other sides 24 of the ribsror undulations are preferably made as ,surface sections of paraboloids having a common Vfocus or focal point located approximately at Y Y 401 Y Ythat light Vraysrle'aving the filament and striking the concentrated portion of the filament 22, so

vthese paraboloidal k'surface Vsections will beY reflected forwardly of the faceII, generally in a direction vparallel't'o one another, but with some diffusion or slight'gvarian'ce. Y Y c When the letter F is so illuminated, largely :y from the light directed thereon from the filaj source of light whichis the lamp 2I, which effect isY shown in'Figj5.V The light stripes will be the nient 22, it will have the .appearance of light andy dark stripes Vprogressing across'the face thereof and approximately concentric with the sides 24 Yof the ribsron the face I I, which contrast with the darker or non-illuminated sides 2 3Lof the ribs or undulations on the face I'I, that becauseof their approximately radial relation to the filament 22 receive little orY no substantialV illumination. Y f Y These light and darkstripes appearing on the VVface of theV object pictured, such as thefletter Y F,'prodic"ea"very striking,'yet pleasing effect on the eye of the observer, even if locateda substantial distance in front of the face I I, and this same striking, distinctive and attractive appearance is'obtained, even when there is some illumination'of the sides 23 of 'the ribs,V because the illumination of the sides 23 ofthe ribs Will intentionally be less intense than that ofthe sides 24 p Vof the ribs; and this contrastin the intensity of illumination onthe sides 23 and 24 will produce a striped appearance, such as shown inV Fig. 5, when the-,face ,'I'IjofV theY letter'is illuminated,

1 largely by the iight Afrom the lamp 2|., Y

.I'also preferably .increase the width of *the sides 24 of the ribs'prog'ressively in a direction away from the lamp 2|, so that the net area kof. Vthe sides 24, illuminated brightly by the lamp 2 I ,will increase with the distance from the lamp. Y Because of this increase in area of illumination,

with the increase in distance from the lamp 2|,

the appearance to an observer in front of a letter Vor sign unit will be one'V of uniformity in intensity of'jiuuminanon m the iight stripes,

over the entire figure outline of the unit, even though the lamp is Ydisposed entirely Vat; one side of the letter orv objectV being pictured. While the lamp could be disposed within the pictorial representation, it preferably isY disposed.

`slightly to one sideY ofV the representation or letter, as shown. Y v

In Fig. 4 a; somewhat similar signl unit is illustrated, and similar parts are designated by the Fig., 4Vthe face II has a greater degree of curva# ture in the concavity than in Figs. 1Y to 3, and the size of? the ribs andgarea O ffthe illuminated section'are changed. T he relationslpof-"the Y sides of the ribs tothe filament is the same, how'- Y even'and the rvsides 24 are preferably sections of Y f invention easily applicable toV interchangeable same referencecharacters as in Figs. 1 to 3. In *Y Zes Yso

signs, such as are used for advertising motion Y pictures, etc.' Y The source of light is'disposed slightly in front of the face to be illuminatedandalso preferably Y is located laterally outside of the zone or portion of the face which itis desired to illuminate and Y which defines the object or picture toV be repre'- sented under illumination. For example.' one source of light might be used for a'groupof pictures or objects arranged around that source, or the source of lightV might be disposed in thev such as within the area encompassed Yby `the letter O in which Vcase the ribs or corrugatlons would preferably be approximately concentric around the source of light. Y

Ainterior Yarea of the object or representation',V Y

If the source of light is 'disposed directlyV in I the line Yof sight between theV observer and the carries the reflecting finish, then the light tends to obstruct or conceal a portion of the object or pictorial representation and provides a dark area co-extensive with the lateral dimensions o1' the housing and lamp. While the cap I1 Vmight be made of Vlight transmitting propertieslso' as to avoid the dark area, Ynevertheless it would interfere with the uniformityof the illuminated stripes and would tend tolde'tract, to some extent, from the attractive yappearance Vof. the

stripes of illumination across the zone definingv Y theV object or pictorial representation.

While the source of light may be disposed at the top, bottom, either side,` or interior area-efV the object or pictorialV representation, yetthe rays of light from the source should strike lthe y face having the reflecting'nnish Vat a reasonably acute angle; otherwise the appearanceV` of light and dark stripes would beV less pronounced. iIn

referring to the face, with respect to which the light'rays make an acute inclination, :I am referring to the inclination Ato thev general concave shape of the face as a whole, rather than to the Y illuminated portion or zone of the face which. ,l

sides of the ribs against which the light rays strike. 1 i" The illustrated forms of the invention are simple embodiments thereof, and it will be understood that various devices` for changing the colors of the light rays thrownA on the faceV Il., orV for varying the colors intermittently orin accordance with any desired cycle so as to produce moving color effects vby progressive color changes in the illumination, may be adopted.

It will be obvious that various changes in the materials, proportions and other details of construction, which have been herein described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention, may be made by those` skilled in the art within the principle and scope' of the inven'- tion, as expressedY in the appended claims. v

' I claim:

1..A sign comprising a member having on a face thereof a plurality of approximately V- shaped ribs, concentric about .acommon axis, and a source of light disposed at said axis and disposed in front of, and directing light rays against said face, said face being generally concave and both sidesV of each rib being visible from a position well in front of said face and of Vsaid source, one side of each rib :being approximately radial to said source so .as to have a minimum' of Vdirect illumination from .said source, the other side of each lrib being clearly illuminated by said source, whereby when .said face is illuminated by said source, it will have the appearance of alternate .light and dark stripes thereon, concentric about said source,.and when illuminated from othersources of flight, both sides of said ribs will be clearly illuminated.

2. A sign comprising a member, and a source of light disposed a short distance infront of a generally concave face of said member but outside the area of said face to be illuminated and directing light rays solely against said face, said -face having wave-like undulations with the wave fronts progressing from said source, and ofsuch depths, and inclinations with respect to said light rays, that substantially one complete side of each undulation will be directly illuminatedbyl light from said source, and the othersides ofthe undulations will be in shadows of the illuminated sides, said lface having. a diffusing, reecting finish, whereby when said face is illuminated largely by light from said4 source it will have relatively light and dark stripesgthereon corresponding to said undulations.

3. A sign comprising a member, a source of -light disposed a shortdistance` in front of a ,generallyA concave face of said member but outside the area of said face to be illuminated and directing light rays solely against saidV face, said face having wave-like undulations with the wave fronts progressing from saidsource, and of such depths, and inclinations with respect to said light rays, that substantially one complete side of each undulation will be directly illuminated by light from said source, and the other sides of the undulations will be in shadows of the illuminated sides, said face having a diffusing, reflecting finish, whereby when said face is illuminated largely by light from said source it will have relatively light and dark stripes thereon corresponding to said undulations, and means concealing said light from view at a position Well in front of said face, and concentrating the light from Said source upon said face.

4. A sign comprising a member having an undulatory face, and a source of light disposed slightly infront of said face and laterallyoutside of the zone of said faceto be illuminated, for directinglight rays against said facev at a small inclination to said face, said undulations being substantial and being approximately concentric about saidsource, saidrface having amat-like,

reflecting surface.

5. A sign comprising a member having an undulatory face, a source of light disposed slightly infront :of vsaid 'face and laterally outside of the zone of'said face to be illuminated, for directing light rays against saidface at a small inclination 'to said face, said undulations: being substantial and being approximately concentric about said source, said face havingV a mat-like, reflecting surface, and a light screen for said source for concentrating thev light rays from the source 4and directing them against said face.

y 6. A 'sign comprising a member, and an electric vlamp mounted on said member adjacent an edge thereof and projecting forwardlyv of said mem.-

er to position its lament. a short distance forwardly of a face of said member, said face being concave and having thereon approximately V shaped ribs that are approximately concentric with the lamentof said lamp,l one side of each rib being approximately radial to said filament Vand the other side of each rib being a portion of a paraboloid whose focus is at approximately said filament, whereby when said face is illuminated by light rays from said filament, said face will have the appearance of light and dark stripes thereon corresponding to the faces of said ribs. Y Y V '7. A signeomprising a member having a shallow, concave-face with approximately V shaped ribs on said face and approximately concentric about a common axis, and a source of light disposed slightly in front of, and adjacent a margin of said face and approximately at said axis for directing light rays Yagainst said face, whereby when said face is illuminated by said source of light, it will appear to havelight and dark stripes thereon corresponding to said ribs, said face having thereon a reflecting surface in the outline of a desired pictorial representation, and the vremainder of said face being non-reflecting,

whereby said outline alone will be clearly visible when illuminatedA by said source.

`8. A sign comprising a'member having a shallow, concave face with approximately V shaped ribs on said face and approximately concentric about a common axis, and a source of light disposed slightly in front of, and adjacent amargin of the zone of said face to be illuminated and approximately at said axis for directing light rays against said face, whereby when said face is illuminated by said `source Vof light, it will appear to have light and dark stripes thereon corresponding to said ribs, said facev having thereon a mat-like, diffusing and reflecting surface in the outline of a 'desired pictorial representation, and the remainder of said face being non-reflecting, whereby said outline alone will be clearly visible when illuminated by said source.

9. A sign comprising a member having a shallow, concave face with wave-like undulations thereon approximately concentric to a common axis piercing said face outside of the zone of said face to be illuminated, and an electric lamp disposed with its filament approximately at said axis and slightly in front of said face, one side ofeach of said undulations being approximately radial to said filament, and the other sides of said undulations increasing in width somewhat progf'xwessively .a directionV from-s'aid axis toward Y the @opposite Vperiphery yof :said face, whereby said face is illuminated by light from .said 'lament, 'said face will appear to have thereon f5 .iight-andV dark stripes of illumination .approximatelyryc'or'responding -to said undulations, .andV all the light stripes will appear toV have uniform intensity of illumination.

' 10. A sign comprising a member having'a sha1-j Y lio-low, 'concave face Vwith Wave-like rundulations Y thereon approximately concentric to a common Vaxis ,piercing said face thereof,V `and an electric V.lamp edisposed with Vits filament approximately .fait said axis fand Aslightly in front of -said face, 1:5 'one side foi-each said undulations :bei-ng :approxifmatelyrradial tosaidfiilament, and :the other sides of V:said VYundulations increasing in width somewhat progressively in a .direction .from said Y :axis toward 'the opposite periphery of said face,V 120 whereby when .said tace Vis .illuminated Yby light i Vrornsaid lament, :said face, will .appear to have Vthereon vlightjantl ,darli :stripes of .illumination :approximately'corresponding to said undulations, and-all ishelightY stripes Ywill appear to have uni'- 225 -orm intensity lofilIuminatiOn, vthe sides of said rundulations having a matr-like,reilectingand diffusing -finish to reduce `glare vand provide a rich, Asatin-like, :distinctive and attractive ,ap-- pearanoe when illuminated.

30 A sign comprising :a member having a shallow, concave .face vwith :a mat-like, diiusing fanid re'ecting finish thereon and dening-'a zone Vcorresponding Ito .a desired pictorial 'representation, Yand an electric Vfilament', lamp disposed fla't- ..135 orally outside of Vsaid zoneand vslightly infront of V:said -face for 'directing 1light:rays against ,said

Y Trace, whereby'said representation will .be illuminatedflargely by .indirect :light kfrom .said filament. 312.' Asigncomprising a member havingashalto allow, concave .face with a zone .provided with :a

mat-like, VVdiffusing and reflecting -nish and deV iinring by .said zone :a :desired pictorial represen(- tation .an electric filament lamp disposed .lat- `'orally -outsidelofl'said zonerrbut-fslightly in front ..45 "of ysaid fface for vdirecting light l.rays .against `said f -ifaceVwhereby said :representation Will be i1- ,V -luminated largely by .indirect .light .from said lillarnent, and Ymeans located ila'terally :beyond the limits'of said vzone :'for .coloring the light rays between lsaid lament and said .reprefsentation.. Y Y Y =13. A si'gnvcomprisinga member` having a shallowyconcave -lface With-'a zone `carrying -a mat- "like, diiusing Aand reecting -nish thereon Land f defining -a-'desired pictorial representation, and belectric filament lamp disposed ilaterally outside Lof vsaidrzronre vand #slightly Iin front yof V'said face "for-directing i light -jraysV Yagainst; rsaid face, vW'herebyfsac'l representation willrbe illuminated im) Vlargely by indirectjlight from said filament, lsaid 'face vhaving ribelike undulations 'approximately 2,051,451 y Y Y Y mmentric withsam filament, v.one side of Y 14. A sign comprising a/member having V.afshallow., concave facaan Opaque housing projectingV `forwardly of said face, electric lament lamp mounted -in said housing withv the base of the Y `lamprait the base :oferthe housing, said housing Y hamingia ntherein' through which .light from saidffilament'mayrstrike said race, and Y.a

transparent glass removably closing said window and having any desired color including a clear glassgso as vto control theV color of Yillumination of said race, said concave' faceV having undulations progressing yin wave-like manner from said lamp, with one side ofeach undulation inythe .shadow of the other side of Vthat undulation,pthe undulations 'havinga mat-like, light diffusing]` and reflecting nish :in an areadening a pictY ,Y -rial.representationy .and the remainderfosaid face :having a .light `absorbing rand non-reflecting n'ish, whereby when ysaid face is illuminated -fromysaid Ii1ament,rsaid representation will .be

face will be relatively .da-rk.

=15. A sign comprisinga member having -a/shal# low, concave face, .an opaque housing projecting forwardly .of said Vface alongfanedge thereof, an electric fllamentlamp mounted'in said .housingV 'with the :base of Ythe Vlamp at fthe base .of :the

' illuminated clearly and the remainder of ,said

housing, .said housing having aiwindow therein through which V light from' said -filamentfmay ,strike said face, :and a transparent .glassz-removably closing .said windowand having anydesired color including. clear glass, so as tooontrol .the

color "of .illumination of said race, said VconcaveV vface having .upona .portion thereof .a .mat-ilike,

light fdiiusing .and. reflecting .nish dening a `:pictorial representation, andwthe 4remainder of Y saidlface having a Vnon-rveeeting whereby when saidface is illuminated :from said-lament,

.fsa'i'd representation will fbe -"illum'inated clearly Y fandtheremainder of said'face willbe relatively dark, said face having Yapproximately V shaped Y undulations .approximately concentric about fsaid' lament, with one side of each of the .undulations approximately radial A.to said .filament 'and vthe :nther sides vof Vsaid .undulations increasing .in

width in :a direction .away from .said housing,

vwhereby-when .under Ailluminzattion from said :appear to 'have :an .approximately Luniform :intensityof illumination. v

iiampsaid otherfsides Vdfsaidundulations will-all Y imV 

